Justice for Herbie Dog Walk set for Sunday

LORAIN -- A Justice for Herbie Dog Walk will take place Sunday starting at 1 p.m. at Streator Park, between Long and Reid avenues and bordered by West 10th and West 11th streets.

The walk is in response to a 4-year-old pit bull that was found emaciated and with a skull injury, lying on a tree lawn on W. 11th Street in Lorain last Saturday.

Police were called, and Herbie was taken to the Lorain Animal Clinic, 4205 Oberlin Ave.

"What a terrible shape Herbie was in. I wanted to make sure that there was motivation to get the perpetrator," said Pat Fogo, of Elyria, who helps organize the walk.

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The procession will go down Long Avenue and West 11th Street north onto Washington Avenue and end at Veterans Park across from Lorain City Hall. The length of the walk is one mile. Those who attend are asked to walk on the sidewalk and not in the street.

All dogs must be leashed. If possible, purple ribbons or bandanas would be appreciated to show support for Herbie and other abused animals.

The primary purpose of the dog walk is to better inform the public of a monetary reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the abuse of Herbie and his neglect and abandonment, Fogo said.

Another purpose of the walk is to raise awareness of House Bill 108, known as Nitro's Law, that would inflict harsher penalties on animal abusers, making it a felony conviction, Fogo said.

Speaking about Herbie, Fogo said, "It was devastating to think a human being could be so cruel. We're compassionate people. We know that people who would do this to animals would do this to a human being as well."

Herbie is still under veterinary care and will be for some time, Fogo said.

According to a veterinary assistant of Dr. Thomas Wood of the Lorain Animal Clinic, the dog's skull was shattered, possibly by an old injury, by being hit by an object or being struck by a car.

The dog weighed 40 pounds and should weigh at least 80 pounds. He was reportedly able to eat and stand on his feet for a short period of time on Thursday.

"We go out of our way to rescue animals and then to think someone would deliberately maim and injure them, makes me very angry," Fogo said.

Asked how the dog got his name, Fogo said she and an employee of the Lorain Animal Clinic were discussing different names.

"Then, she remembered, in the cartoon of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," that there was an elf who wanted to be a dentist. And his name was Herbie. So, that's how he got his name," Fogo said.

Donations can be made for Herbie's care, Fogo said. More information can be obtained by going to Facebook: Justice for Herbie, the Abused, Lorain, Ohio Dog.